2011 Honda CR-Z: Up Close

As production cars go, the CR-Z hybrid is a pretty daring design, with an aggressive front end and prominent haunches. If you’re someone who doesn’t like the rear window on the Honda Insight or Toyota Prius — or the old Honda CRX that inspired all of these — you’re not going to be happy with this one, either. As a whole, I like it a lot.

Because it’s a two-seater, there’s plenty of room in this thing for people. Unfortunately, the complex displays weren’t operable when I got to sit in the car. The interior quality is OK, but nothing to rave about — similar to the Insight. It will be easier to put into context once a price is announced. As of today, Honda won’t say how it relates to the Insight. The impression I get is it won’t be priced considerably lower, if lower at all, but they might surprise us.

I was happy to see three pedals and a six-speed stick, though. Honda discontinued the manual in the second-generation Civic Hybrid, and it doesn’t offer one in the Insight because computer-controlled continuously variable automatic transmissions are markedly more efficient than humans in hybrids. The same is true here: The CR-Z’s optional CVT gets an estimated 37 mpg combined, and the manual gets 33 mpg. Doesn’t sound great when the Insight gets 41 mpg. If the performance matches the CR-Z’s looks, it will be easier to justify, but Honda won’t give acceleration times, and it characterizes the car as fun to drive. Fun doesn’t necessarily mean quick.

The CR-Z’s hybrid system has 24 more horsepower than the Insight and weighs 53 pounds less, which is promising, but the Insight hits 60 mph in a none-too-impressive 10 or 11 seconds. We’ll have to see.

With its two seats, the CR-Z reminds me more of the original Insight than the current one does. Unfortunately, the high cargo floor recalls the original, too, but it extends farther forward, and there are a couple of storage bins just behind the seats.